 Headache/Pain Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
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Physical
Therapy (PT)
(by Julie Roth, MPT)
What are you looking for or measuring during an initial PT evaluation?
At an initial evaluation, the focus
is on answering three questions: "Can I reproduce this person's symptoms?",
"Can I alleviate this person's symptoms?", and "What about this person's examination
is different from a nonaffected individual?". Generally, if an individual's
symptoms can be reproduced or alleviated through the application of light pressure
or manipulation, the physical therapist can isolate and identify those structures
which are contributing to or causing the pain.
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What PT approaches are most helpful for chronic headache sufferers?
Many headache sufferers have already
utilized various relief measures and treatments, such as heat and ice, and use them
at home. The most effective treatment for the chronic headache patient is
to find the underlying structural cause or contributor to their illness and focus
treatment on this area. For example, the physical therapist may be able to
identify a specific joint in the neck that is moving poorly, or a spasm in one of
the small muscles in the face or neck that when mobilized and stretched can significantly
reduce or eliminate the pain being experienced by the patient.
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Does PT produce permanent pain relief?
That depends. When a physical
therapist can get at the root of a problem, such as poor mobility in a joint or
muscle spasm or postural dysfunction, and address that problem, the results can
be longer lasting. The patient may need to perform a few exercises in order
to maintain the improvement.
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How do you define a successful PT outcome?
Pain decreases and life becomes
easier. Daily activities are not so difficult. Range of motion is restored.
Physical activity and exercise can be resumed without increasing pain. However,
the most successful outcome is when a patient feels that success has been achieved
and established goals have been met.
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How is PT provided when patients live far away from the Institute?
Actually, this describes the majority
of the patients seen at MHNI. The initial PT evaluation becomes a part of
the overall multidisciplinary approach utilized by the patient's treatment team.
If a patient cannot attend MHNI for regular therapy visits, then our physical therapy
team looks for a therapist in their own community who is well-trained and experienced
in treating headache. The initial evaluation, assessment, and treatment recommendation
are then forwarded to that local therapist. Preferably, the patient is seen
back at MHNI to assess their progress and to provide further recommendations after
they have been in physical therapy for a while.
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